Law could drive students from their schools after Sandy drove them from their homes

Sep. 23, 2013

Antoinette Chenoweth and daughter, Danielle, lost their Middletown home during superstorm Sandy. State law may force the family to send Danielle to school in Hazlet, where they are temporarily renting a place. / Peter Ackerman/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Danielle Chenoweth plays with her dog, Brandi, in the backyard of her family's rental in Hazlet. / Peter Ackerman/staff photographer

SCHOOL SCOOP

Danielle Chenoweth plays with her dog, Brandi, in the backyard of her family's rental in Hazlet. / Peter Ackerman/staff photographer

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For Charlie Appleby and other students displaced by superstorm Sandy last year, school often served as a sanctuary of continuity during a time of personal upheaval.

For Charlie Appleby and other students displaced by superstorm Sandy last year, school often served as a sanctuary of continuity during a time of personal upheaval.

“Kids crave normalcy,” said Charlie’s father, Charles Appleby, who recently secured a rental in Lavallette so his children can continue to attend classes with their friends as their home is rebuilt. “As a parent, you want to provide it.”

“Kids crave normalcy,” said Charlie’s father, Charles Appleby, who recently secured a rental in Lavallette so his children can continue to attend classes with their friends as their home is rebuilt. “As a parent, you want to provide it.”

This fall, some of the children that Sandy displaced may face another residual effect from the storm — they may need to pack their things and leave their current classroom.

This fall, some of the children that Sandy displaced may face another residual effect from the storm — they may need to pack their things and leave their current classroom.

Watch the video above to see how the storm has affected another child and her family.

Watch the video above to see how the storm has affected another child and her family.

The protections written into the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law that allowed the students to continue in the same district as before Sandy, expire a year after their parents found a new place to stay.

The protections written into the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law that allowed the students to continue in the same district as before Sandy, expire a year after their parents found a new place to stay.

If the parents of students who relocated out of a district after Sandy want their kids to continue attending the same school, they will need to prove to administrators that they intend to return.

If the parents of students who relocated out of a district after Sandy want their kids to continue attending the same school, they will need to prove to administrators that they intend to return.

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While homeowners can submit copies of permits or other documentation that show they are working on rebuilding, renters may face a tougher time proving that they intend to return, said Brian Walsh, principal of Union Beach’s Memorial School, where enrollment has plummeted 10 percent from last September.

While homeowners can submit copies of permits or other documentation that show they are working on rebuilding, renters may face a tougher time proving that they intend to return, said Brian Walsh, principal of Union Beach’s Memorial School, where enrollment has plummeted 10 percent from last September.

“We have to deal with the reality of the situation,” Walsh said. “We want every family to continue here, but some people will not be able to.”

“We have to deal with the reality of the situation,” Walsh said. “We want every family to continue here, but some people will not be able to.”

The situation is particularly acute in working-class towns such as Keansburg, where many residents rent rather than own their dwellings, said Jerry North, the district’s superintendent.

The situation is particularly acute in working-class towns such as Keansburg, where many residents rent rather than own their dwellings, said Jerry North, the district’s superintendent.

“Come Nov. 1, we could see a significant impact,” said North, adding that Keansburg picks up more than 100 displaced students currently living in communities outside the borough. “We’re going to lose kids, there’s no doubt about that.”

“Come Nov. 1, we could see a significant impact,” said North, adding that Keansburg picks up more than 100 displaced students currently living in communities outside the borough. “We’re going to lose kids, there’s no doubt about that.”

Emotional support

Students who face the possibility of having to move from one school to another this fall will need particular attention and support from educators, said Rachel Alvarez, program supervisor of CPC Behavioral Healthcare’s Community Outreach Relief Effort, which is providing counseling services to several districts in Monmouth County impacted by Sandy.

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Emotional support

Students who face the possibility of having to move from one school to another this fall will need particular attention and support from educators, said Rachel Alvarez, program supervisor of CPC Behavioral Healthcare’s Community Outreach Relief Effort, which is providing counseling services to several districts in Monmouth County impacted by Sandy.

“This will affect some of the most vulnerable people impacted by the storm,” Alvarez said. “Identifying who is at risk should be a priority for these districts.”

“This will affect some of the most vulnerable people impacted by the storm,” Alvarez said. “Identifying who is at risk should be a priority for these districts.”

Even for children who continue attending the same district as before the storm, some still are undergoing difficult stresses.

Even for children who continue attending the same district as before the storm, some still are undergoing difficult stresses.

Maisie Held, a 10-year-old who lost her Belmar house and many of her toys and childhood keepsakes, feels like she has an uncomfortable spotlight on her because she is a Sandy victim, said her mother, Krista Sperber.

Maisie Held, a 10-year-old who lost her Belmar house and many of her toys and childhood keepsakes, feels like she has an uncomfortable spotlight on her because she is a Sandy victim, said her mother, Krista Sperber.

“She didn’t want her friends to know she was out of her home,” said Sperber, who rented a space near her old house as she battles with her insurance company over compensation for the loss. “It’s an age when you don’t want to seem different for any reason.”

“She didn’t want her friends to know she was out of her home,” said Sperber, who rented a space near her old house as she battles with her insurance company over compensation for the loss. “It’s an age when you don’t want to seem different for any reason.”

When Maisie thinks about what she’s lost and what she feels is a transient life, without a house or a room she can really call her own, she said she cries.

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When Maisie thinks about what she’s lost and what she feels is a transient life, without a house or a room she can really call her own, she said she cries.

“Nobody else knows how I feel,” said Maisie, noting that other students who were displaced are now back in their homes. “They don’t know how many times I’ve moved, all the things I’ve lost.”

“Nobody else knows how I feel,” said Maisie, noting that other students who were displaced are now back in their homes. “They don’t know how many times I’ve moved, all the things I’ve lost.”

Playing fair

The state Department of Education is looking for county superintendents to serve as the liaisons between Trenton and local school districts, in an attempt to broker the fairest way of implementing McKinney-Vento, said Michael Yaple, a spokesman for the agency.

Playing fair

The state Department of Education is looking for county superintendents to serve as the liaisons between Trenton and local school districts, in an attempt to broker the fairest way of implementing McKinney-Vento, said Michael Yaple, a spokesman for the agency.

“Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis,” said Yaple, who did not have estimates on the number of students who remain displaced or who face the possibility of relocating to a new district. “There’s going to be hardships, but in the end, we’ve got to do what’s right for the kids.”

“Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis,” said Yaple, who did not have estimates on the number of students who remain displaced or who face the possibility of relocating to a new district. “There’s going to be hardships, but in the end, we’ve got to do what’s right for the kids.”

Joseph Passiment, who serves as the superintendent for Monmouth and Ocean counties, could not be reached for comment.

Joseph Passiment, who serves as the superintendent for Monmouth and Ocean counties, could not be reached for comment.

Finding a decent rental unit in a hard-hit place such as Keansburg has proven difficult for many parents, with the stock dwindling after the storm, North said.

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Finding a decent rental unit in a hard-hit place such as Keansburg has proven difficult for many parents, with the stock dwindling after the storm, North said.

He and Walsh say they are concerned about the long-term enrollment implications for their districts. If the students don’t return in future years, districts like Union Beach could end up facing difficult decisions about staffing and resources, Walsh said.

He and Walsh say they are concerned about the long-term enrollment implications for their districts. If the students don’t return in future years, districts like Union Beach could end up facing difficult decisions about staffing and resources, Walsh said.

As time passes, some families will end up relocating permanently, Alvarez said. For their children, it could prove to be a different type of hardship to try to latch on to their district from before Sandy, rather than attending a school closer to their new home, she said.

As time passes, some families will end up relocating permanently, Alvarez said. For their children, it could prove to be a different type of hardship to try to latch on to their district from before Sandy, rather than attending a school closer to their new home, she said.

“Ultimately, the closer that kids can get to any type of normalcy, the better,” Alvarez said. “If you’re going to build a new life elsewhere, it’s going to make more sense for your child to go to school there.”

“Ultimately, the closer that kids can get to any type of normalcy, the better,” Alvarez said. “If you’re going to build a new life elsewhere, it’s going to make more sense for your child to go to school there.”

Charlie Appleby, 12, and his sister Zoey, 8, seem happy to be going back to school after months of uncertainty about when their home will be rebuilt, their father said.

Charlie Appleby, 12, and his sister Zoey, 8, seem happy to be going back to school after months of uncertainty about when their home will be rebuilt, their father said.

With all the hardships associated with being out of their home in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown since last October, Antoinette Chenoweth said she is happy that her daughter Danielle, 10, has been able to remain in the same school, Middletown’s St. Mary Elementary School.

With all the hardships associated with being out of their home in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown since last October, Antoinette Chenoweth said she is happy that her daughter Danielle, 10, has been able to remain in the same school, Middletown’s St. Mary Elementary School.

Danielle has suffered from stomachaches during the past few months, which her mother attributes to the stress of getting pushed out of her home and into a rental in Hazlet.

Danielle has suffered from stomachaches during the past few months, which her mother attributes to the stress of getting pushed out of her home and into a rental in Hazlet.